Long Sands Beach Master Plan
The public facilities (Bathhouse, Roadway, Sidewalks and Drainage) in the Long Sands Beach area of York Beach were constructed in the 40’s & 50’s. These much used facilities are functionally deficient and have out lived their useful life. The voters of the Town of York have approved three separate capital improvement projects. A drainage project just north of the Anchorage Inn was approved in May of 2012. A second drainage project just north of the Long Sands Bathhouse and the replacement and expansion of the Long Sands Bathhouse was approved in May of 2013. In April of 2014, the Board of Selectmen authorized the Department of Public Works to apply for a Municipal Partnership Initiative (MPI) Grant from Maine DOT to secure the funds for the Long Beach Avenue improvements. In June of 2014, the Town received notification that the grant request was approved.
In an effort to take advantage of economies of scale, close proximity and improve coordination between the above mentioned capital improvement projects the Board of Selectmen authorized combining the survey work for all four capital projects. An RFP was developed and the Board awarded the existing conditions survey to North Easterly Surveyors, Inc. of Kittery, Maine.
Because of the successful outcome of the survey bid process, the Board of Selectmen authorized the same approach for the project development phase in order to create a master plan for the Long Sands Beach area. The road alignment, the proximity of the drainage projects to the bathhouse, and any additional improvements brought about by the MPI grant make a strong case for a well thought our master plan approach. In addition, the footprint of the bathhouse, complete streets design, drainage improvements, MS4 compliance, parking as well as handicapped accessibility to the beach, bathhouse, street, parking, green space, sidewalks and crosswalks must all be coordinated and addressed.
The Town intends to develop up to three possible conceptual plans within the frame work of a thorough public process. The Town’s vision is to emerge with a single plan and design for the Long Sands Beach area. This vision includes a design that encompasses a replacement and expansion of the existing Long Sands Beach Bathhouse, a “complete streets” design for Long Beach Avenue, traffic flow, parking, drainage improvements and MS4 compliance, utility placement, sidewalks, provisions for bicycles, streetscape elements such as furniture, way-finding signs, public space creation, and public realm landscaping in order to promote the vitality and beauty of Long Sands Beach as dynamic, safe, and sustainable family attraction reflecting the history of a community that is both welcoming to visitors and supportive of local businesses and its residents.
It’s the Town’s intentions to bid the construction of the bathhouse separately from the roadway, drainage and other infrastructure improvements. This will require two separate sets of construction bid documents to be developed. The Parks and Recreation Director along with a Town appointed Building Committee will manage the construction of the bathhouse. The Public Works Director will manage the construction of the road, drainage and other infrastructure improvements.
In an effort to take advantage of economies of scale, close proximity and improve coordination between the above mentioned capital improvement projects the Board of Selectmen authorized combining the survey work for all four capital projects. An RFP was developed and the Board awarded the existing conditions survey to North Easterly Surveyors, Inc. of Kittery, Maine.
Because of the successful outcome of the survey bid process, the Board of Selectmen authorized the same approach for the project development phase in order to create a master plan for the Long Sands Beach area. The road alignment, the proximity of the drainage projects to the bathhouse, and any additional improvements brought about by the MPI grant make a strong case for a well thought our master plan approach. In addition, the footprint of the bathhouse, complete streets design, drainage improvements, MS4 compliance, parking as well as handicapped accessibility to the beach, bathhouse, street, parking, green space, sidewalks and crosswalks must all be coordinated and addressed.
The Town intends to develop up to three possible conceptual plans within the frame work of a thorough public process. The Town’s vision is to emerge with a single plan and design for the Long Sands Beach area. This vision includes a design that encompasses a replacement and expansion of the existing Long Sands Beach Bathhouse, a “complete streets” design for Long Beach Avenue, traffic flow, parking, drainage improvements and MS4 compliance, utility placement, sidewalks, provisions for bicycles, streetscape elements such as furniture, way-finding signs, public space creation, and public realm landscaping in order to promote the vitality and beauty of Long Sands Beach as dynamic, safe, and sustainable family attraction reflecting the history of a community that is both welcoming to visitors and supportive of local businesses and its residents.
It’s the Town’s intentions to bid the construction of the bathhouse separately from the roadway, drainage and other infrastructure improvements. This will require two separate sets of construction bid documents to be developed. The Parks and Recreation Director along with a Town appointed Building Committee will manage the construction of the bathhouse. The Public Works Director will manage the construction of the road, drainage and other infrastructure improvements.
